Judge OKs Media Coverage In Court During Freund Sr.'s Case

WOODSTOCK, IL — Andrew Freund Sr., the man accused of beating his son Andrew "AJ" Freund to death at their Crystal Lake home in April, appeared in court Tuesday in Woodstock for a status hearing during which a McHenry County judge ruled media coverage would be allowed at future court proceedings, according to NBC Chicago.

According to a report by Northwest Herald, news media crews were in the courtroom for the county's first case to be granted future coverage.

During the hearing, prosecutors filed orders of protection on medical records from a few hospitals in the Chicago-area, NBC Chicago reported.

Freund Sr.'s, who has pleaded not guilty in the death of his 5-year-old son, is expected back in court on Feb. 27.

AJ Freund was first reported missing on April 18 and his body was found about a week later in a shallow grave in rural Woodstock after his father, Andrew Freund Sr., lead investigators to it. His mother, 36-year-old JoAnn Cunningham, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in connection with his death last month.

READ MORE:

• Read Indictment for Joann Cunningham, Andrew Freund
• New Details Released Following Cunningham's Guilty Verdict
• AJ Freund's Home Can Be Demolished

All additional charges in the case, including battery charges implicating Cunningham in past incidents of child abuse, were dropped, according to officials and court documents.

Cunningham now faces between 20 and 60 years in prison and is not eligible for parole.

>> DCFS timeline and AJ's death